meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Things Police See: Firsthand Accounts

Sheriff Ross Teeple: Unlocked Jail Experiment, Border Threats & Cop War Stories

Things Police See: Firsthand Accounts

Steven D Gould

Society & Culture, True Crime

4.91.3K Ratings

🗓️ 4 March 2026

⏱️ 56 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple joins the show to discuss his bold leadership, the high-stakes Netflix series "Unlocked: A Jail Experiment" Season 2, and life inside Arizona's corrections system. Fresh off taking office, Sheriff Teeple shares how he was "strong-armed" (old friends) by predecessor Sheriff Mark Lamb into filming a groundbreaking re-entry program that unlocked jail cells, shifted to indirect supervision, and empowered inmates to self-govern—aiming to build responsibility, reduce recidivism, and break cycles of crime.
Hear raw stories from his career: his first high-speed pursuit gone wrong, a terrifying hand-to-hand fight during an arrest, heartbreaking search-and-rescue recoveries (including a tragic plane crash in the Superstition Mountains), bizarre and intense calls, and a heartwarming success saving a young woman from a predatory relationship.
Sheriff Teeple opens up about border security challenges near the Tohono O'odham Nation (where 80% of U.S. fentanyl crosses), cartel threats on American soil, drone smuggling risks, staffing shortages, pay raises for detention officers, and advice for new law enforcement recruits: put down the phone, build real-world communication skills, and seek face-to-face conflict resolution.

Unlocked: A Jail Experiment  Season 2 now on Netlfix - https://www.netflix.com/title/81476420

Follow Sheriff Teeple on Instagram @teepleforthepeople

Pinal County Sheriff's Office on Youtube 
 @PinalCountySheriffsOffice  

Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com

Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

Sergeant Steve Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@UCuobtuGxJny9V5lX5a1ieuw

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is things police see.

0:04.0

First-Han accounts with your host, Steve Gold.

0:08.0

Welcome to the podcast to interviews active, retired police officers about the most intense, bizarre, and sometimes humorous moments on the job.

0:15.0

His eye, old ginger face, here with you as always, guys.

0:19.0

Thank you for being here.

0:20.0

Thank you for joining us. Thank you to all

0:21.8

the Sergeant Steve people on YouTube who have slid over here into the podcast and are now binge

0:29.3

listening to the podcast. I truly appreciate that. That's awesome. Some of you are even choosing to be

0:33.3

Patreon supporters, which is great, keeps the boat afloat, keeps the lights on, as I say, with the podcast, pays all those bills.

0:40.5

So thank you, thank you. Today's guest, very excited to have him.

0:46.5

This is the second time I'm going to have somebody in his position. It's a rather influential and big law enforcement position in the country.

0:53.5

He's got 30 years in public service total.

0:55.9

He served in the Navy during Desert Storm. He was also an Arizona corrections officer.

1:01.5

Then went to work for the Pinell County Sheriff's Office. He just recently retired a lieutenant

1:06.3

is now the sheriff of the Hold Dang County. and this county is the size of the state of

1:11.2

Connecticut and in his new office he also decided to allow film crews in as newly elected

1:18.8

sheriff he launched a bold six-week experiment locking the doors to an entire pot and giving

1:22.5

inmates unprecedented control after years of violence, lockdowns, repeat offenders,

1:28.1

having created a cycle of aggression that seems impossible to break.

1:30.8

And now the jail becomes a testing ground for a revolutionary approach to rehabilitation.

1:35.1

I'm talking about, of course, Netflix series unlocked a jail experiment.

1:39.3

Without further ado, let me bring on the great Sheriff Ross Teeple.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Steven D Gould, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Steven D Gould and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.